A/N:  a drabble and a half.

Hope. It was the one thing he needed, and yet the one thing he had irretrievably lost.

Closing his eyes, his hand grasped Arwen's gift and let its light and warmth flow over him. It was the only thing that helped, now that he knew the path that he must take. Sam would not understand, and that grieved him most of all.

It must be soon, he knew that much. Autumn was near, and he knew that he would not survive another winter in the Shire. He mourned; mourned all that he would be leaving behind, and all that might have been if his fate had been different. Alas, some things can never be healed.

Frodo opened his eyes. His blue eyes reflected depths of sorrow and sadness that no hobbit should have to bear. There was only one way, and that was to sail West.

I'm so sorry, Sam.

Pippin was awestruck by the treasure in his hands. He couldn't stop looking at it, or stroking it. In his eyes, it sparkled and shone like so many gems reflecting the sunlight. Nothing in all of his travels compared to this; nothing kept him so spellbound, not even the palantir.

He couldn't believe that such a treasure had come to him. He thanked any powers that be for his good fortune; he was the luckiest hobbit in the Shire; in fact, in the entire Middle-earth!

Turning to Diamond, he handed his daughter to her. Their little Pearl, of great price.

Pippin gulped, tightening his grip on his small sword as he stood next to Gimli. After all they had been through, for it to all end here; somehow, it seemed appropriate. Anything to give Frodo and Sam one last chance to accomplish their mission.

The only regret he had was that Merry was not here. Well, it wasn't really a regret; he was thankful Merry was safe, away from danger. It just would be nice to see him one last time, for a proper good-bye.

Reaching deep inside for courage, Pippin stood up straight, and prepared to meet his end.

 ----------------------------------------------

Pippin slowly came awake. He felt his hand being held by someone, and another hand smoothing the hair from his brow. He stirred, and heard the person by his side suck in his breath.

"Pippin?"

Slowly Pippin opened his eyes, to be greeted by a well-loved face. Merry smiled, tears glistening on his cheeks. "Oh, Pippin; I thought that we had lost you."

Pippin smiled. "No, not yet. I'm afraid you're stuck with me for a bit longer."

Pippin closed his eyes, and as he drifted off, his thought was that this greeting was much better than a final farewell.